“Innovation is no longer optional but a strategic necessity to leap out of the middle-income trap and achieve Golden Indonesia 2045,” Yuliarto said at the 2025 Indonesian Innovation Day event organized by his ministry, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the Higher Education Council (DPT).
He stressed the need to turn research into practical solutions that create tangible benefits for society, with universities acting as central hubs bridging research and industry.
Citing the World Intellectual Property Organization, Yuliarto noted that Indonesia ranks 55th out of 139 countries in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, a significant rise from 87th in 2021.
“We do not want to be mere users of technology but creators of solutions. Collaboration among government, universities, research institutions, and industry is crucial for Indonesia to become a new innovation power in Asia,” he said.
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Yuliarto emphasized that cross-sector cooperation is vital to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem, ensuring research addresses real-world problems and campuses serve as open, impactful centers of innovation for their communities.
Echoing this view, Higher Education Council Research and Innovation Commission Chair Handi Irawan said collaboration among stakeholders is key to enhancing Indonesia’s innovation competitiveness.
“One way for Indonesian universities to become more competitive is through innovation. Through the synergy of DPT, BRIN, and the ministry, we hope new ideas can increase innovation output and improve Indonesia’s Global Innovation Index ranking,” Irawan said.
BRIN chief Laksana Tri Handoko added that fostering an innovation culture should extend beyond academia into society at large.
“Initiatives like this are essential to cultivating a national innovation culture. We value the cooperation of the Higher Education Council, academics, and researchers in advancing Indonesia’s innovation on the global stage,” Handoko said.
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Translator: Sean, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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